B.A. in Anthropology

The aim of your education in Anthropology is to understand what it means to be human. In equal measures, the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology serves both students who wish to gain from their formal education a highly respected undergraduate degree in one of social sciences’ most established fields as well as students who wish to carry forward their study of Anthropology (or of another related discipline such as medicine, law, political sciences or government) to the level of the Masters and Doctorate.

Students who pursue a B.A. in the San Francisco State Anthropology Program acquire knowledge about the foundation of the discipline though required core classes. They then apply that knowledge to particular areas, regions and periods of human experience. In this way, the B.A. in Anthropology provides a thorough grounding in the basic concepts of the discipline. No subfield concentration is required for the baccalaureate degree in anthropology, however, several sequences of courses are recommended for students who want to concentrate in a particular subfield.

Faculty advising is a fundamental part of each student’s orchestration of their undergraduate career. Majors are required to meet with an adviser every fall semester to discuss the most appropriate course sequence. Advisors can also discuss the potential for participation in programs such as Study Abroad, internships and field schools.

Program Overview

For students who entered the program before the Fall of 2011, consult the bulletin for the year you declared your major (click here for undergrad info prior to F11). Students who would like to switch to the new curriculum should consult their advisor.

To complete the Undergraduate program in Anthropology at San Francisco State, a student must complete 39 units of classes which are divided into three types:

Foundation Core

Area Specialisms

Electives

At least one upper division course (Area 1, Area 2, or electives) must be taken in each of the three subfields: biological, cultural/visual, and archaeology. No more than 6 units can be taken in internships (ANTH 695), independent study (ANTH 699), and teaching (ANTH 685) combined.

Courses taken in fulfillment of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade (no CR/NC).

ANTH 305 GW: Writing Anthropology must be completed with a grade of C or better before enrolling in other upper division courses.

Major Requirements

Foundation Core

All students must take the following 15 units of Foundation Core classes.

ANTH 100 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3 units)

ANTH 110 Introduction to Archaeology (3 Units)

ANTH 120 Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (3 Units)

ANTH 300 Foundations of Anthropology: History (3 Units)

ANTH 305GW Writing Anthropology - GWAR (3 Units)

Area 1: Theory and Foundations (Choose 1 course - 3 units)

Anth 301 Foundations of Archaeology (3 units)

Anth 302 Foundations of Human Variation (3 units)

Anth 303 Foundations of Anthropological FIlm(3 units)

Area 2: Methods and Practicum (Choose 1 course - 4-6 units)

Students who choose a six unit course from Area 2 can reduce their required Anth electives to nine units. The methods and practicum fulfills the university culminating experience requirement.

Anth 333 Primate Behavior (4 units)

Anth 530 Human Osteology Practicum (4 units)

Anth 531 Human Evolution Practicum (4 units)

Anth 592 Archaeological Methods (4 units)

Anth 593 Archaeological Excavation and Data Analysis (6 units)

Anth 557 Ethnography of the Inner City (4 units)

Anth 595 Visual Anthropology I (6 units)

Anth 596 Visual Anthropology II (4 units)

Anth 651 Ethnographic Field Methods (4 units)

Anth 652 Anthropological Statistics (4 units)

Electives, Anthropology (12 units or 9 units)

Any upper division units course with an ANTH prefix, including those from the two areas that have not been used to fulfill the Area requirements. Most students will need 12 units in ANTH, but students who complete 6 units from Area 2 reduce the Anth electives to 9 units.

No more than 6 units can be taken in Internships (695), Independent Study (699) and Teaching Assistantships (685) combined. (Note: Students may only receive credits toward the major for a total of 4 units of 685)

Electives, University-wide (6 units)

Upper division units that can be taken in Anthropology or in a related field. Courses taken for the last 6 units that have an ANTH prefix do not require approval. Courses from outside the department (non-ANTH prefix) require written approval from your department advisor before you take the course.

Letter Grades

Courses taken towards the major must be taken for a letter grade (i.e., can’t have Credit/No Credit grading). The only exception is for Anth 685 Teaching Anthropology, which is only offered as CR/NC.

Courses in the Subfields

Cultural Anthropology

Anth 303 Foundations of Anthropological Film

Anth 315 Regional Ethnography

Anth 316 Contemporary Cultures of Greece

Anth 318 Islam: Interpretation and Practice

Anth 319 Cultures of the Middle East and North Africa

Anth 320 Racism: Cross-Cultural Analysis

Anth 321 Endangered Cultures

Anth 325 Class: Cross-Cultural Analysis

Anth 327 Anthropology and Film [UD-D: Social Sciences; Global Perspectives]

If an Anthropology course is not listed in the table, consult an advisor to determine the subfield.

Complementary Studies

Complementary Studies is for students enrolling Fall 2014 or later.

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology must complete at least 12 units of complementary studies from courses outside the primary prefix for the major, and not cross listed with the primary prefix for the major. Students who complete a 2nd major, a minor, or a minimum of 12 units in an approved Study Abroad program, automatically complete the Complementary Studies requirement and units may be double counted toward the major where applicable.

Other options for complementary studies are: 1) Foreign Language: 12 units in a single foreign language; or 2) Related Subjects: 12 units of course work in related disciplines with the approval of an Anthropology Department advisor. Related disciplines typically included courses in the College of Ethnic Studies, Classics, Geology, Geography, Sexuality Studies, Sociology, History, Language Studies, and Women and Gender Studies. Up to 6 units may be double counted in fulfillment of the University-wide elective units for the major. Units may be upper division, lower division, transfer or resident units.